News update February 29, 2024

Northern Business Park plans withdrawn

Curt Werner/Dillsburg Banner

The crowd spontaneously erupts in applause after the withdrawal and termination of Northern Business Park Lot #1 was announced by Carroll Township solicitor Michael Pykosh at the Thursday night conditional use hearing on February 29.

By Kristen Stagg

At the conditional use hearing for Northern Business Park Lot #1 on Feb. 29, Carroll Township solicitor Michael Pykosh announced the applicant’s solicitor formally withdrew and terminated the conditional use on Wednesday afternoon.

The crowd of several dozen spontaneously erupted in applause, drowning out Pykosh’s instructions to the board to formally adopt the action. Supervisors Dave Bush, Tim Kelly, and Brent Sailhamer moved to accept the termination, then closed the hearing.

After the meeting, objectors milled around, expressing their mutual relief and congratulating each other for having strenuously objected through attorneys hired expressly for that purpose.

One of the objectors commented, “Now the township can get the bypass road. We need that a lot more than warehouses.”
Another speculated, “Maybe the traffic impact study was the last nail in the coffin.”

Yet another wondered, “Why don’t they just go away?”

Although they were hopeful that “terminated” meant the applicant would never revisit the subject, Pykosh set the record straight on that point. When questioned, he explained that terminated “just means that the plan before the board is at an end.” However, he said if the applicant would reapply for conditional use at a later date, it would have to be under conditions of the township’s updated zoning ordinance.

 

Print Edition Highlights - February 29, 2024

Northern York County School Board
Board retains outside counsel for policy review

Mary Lou Bytof/Dillsburg Banner

After listening to public comment for more than an hour, the Northern York County School Board Tuesday evening voted 5-2 to retain the Independence Law Center of Harrisburg as outside council.

“The Independence Law Center is a public-interest civil rights law firm affiliated with the Pennsylvania Family Institute, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization funded through tax- deductible contributions that works to preserve religious liberty, promote marriage and the family, protect human life, and improve education and policy for our clients,” according to the organization's website. The center represents individuals and private and government entities by offering legal advice, representation, and testimony before legislative bodies.

Board members Greg Hlatky and John Gunning cast the two dissenting votes. Hlatky argued that the board had never used outside council for policy review. Gunning said that he trusted the administration to work on policy.

“I encourage the board to let Mr. Kirkpatrick and Mr. LaBuda run district policy,” Hlakey added. Steven Kirkpatrick and Matt LaBuda are the district superintendent and assistant to the superintendent, respectively.

For the rest of the story see the February 29, 2024 edition.

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Northern Business Park: Air Quality under scrutiny

Curt Werner/Dillsburg Banner
A view from Golfview Heights. The wooded area along Rt. 15 and Golf Course Road is where the Northern Business Park, a 100-acre warehouse project is proposed, stretching from Golf Course Road, Carroll Township to Glenwood Road, Franklin Township.

Kristen Stagg/Staff Reporter

At the continued conditional use hearing for Northern Business Park Lot #1 on Feb. 21, with air quality under discussion, the applicant's witness expertise was challenged by attorneys representing a group of registered objectors to the project.

Stephanie Duffield, program manager of the environmental compliance group at Landsan Engineering, provided testimony on behalf of SDKM Dillsburg Land, LLC for the 100-acre warehouse project proposed near Northern schools. Duffield was led through her testimony by Scott Gould of McNees, Wallace & Nurick, legal representatives for SDKM.

Expertise presented
Presenting her credentials to be accepted as an expert witness, Duffield cited her 2015 bachelor's degree from Penn State in environmental systems engineering. Duffield said she's also a professional engineer registered in Pennsylvania.

As co-author of a technical memorandum provided by the applicant attesting to future air quality at the proposed project site, Duffield said she analyzes data from the EPA- approved motor vehicle emission simulator (MOVES) software and is familiar with the inputs and how to apply them. According to Duffield, she also “regularly calculates emissions” and uses AER- MOD, another EPA-approved software program, to calculate possible pollutant concentrations downstream from a designated spot.

For the rest of the story see the February 22, 2024 edition.

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Northern Middle School project in limbo

Mary Lou Bytof/Staff Reporter

After rejecting to send bids out for the reconstruction of Northern Middle School last month, the Northern York County School Board has been bombarded with outrage from the public. On Tuesday evening, 11 district residents waited for more than two hours to address the board regarding this issue.

Since the middle school was not listed on the Feb. 27 agenda, the public had to wait until the end of the meeting, as per board policy, to address the board.

All 11 speakers stated strongly that the current middle school is in a state of disrepair and may be dangerous for the students. They cited problems with roof leakage, mold growth, and electrical issues.

“There are urgent issues that need to be fixed very soon,” Steve Harriman of Carroll Township told the board. He mentioned issues with both the water damage and the electrical system. Also, the building will reach 110 percent of its capacity by 2026, he said.

“The bones are good,” he added. “Renovations will include a re-build that will save the district money and add 30,000 square feet,” he said. It will also consolidate the office and student services in one area as well as add more natural light, he recalled.

“Stop kicking the can down the road. Make the kids your priority,” he urged. “At least put it out for bid,” he concluded. Several other speakers also urged the board to get bids on the reconstruction.

For the rest of the story see the February 29, 2024 edition.